Episodes 1 and 2 have a really neat feature I'd like to see in more games: A commentary track. With the commentary enabled, you get a load of checkpoints that will trigger developer commentary as you play, explaining how they created the game, game design theory, things they were trying to accomplish, and more. It's really fascinating stuff and well worth checking out. Listening to them makes clear why Valve's games are so head and shoulders above most other shooters.

I've started to go back and play in Freeplay mode and it's pretty cool. Lots of secret areas and doors in the first few parts of the Raiders adventure.

I hadn't really expected the Lego games to be all that fun but I got into this one. My wife and daughter got me the Star Wars complete six episode Lego game for Valentines. I haven't started playing it yet but if I have half as much fun with it as I did this one, I'll be happy.

I'm playing Mass Effect. Started on Tuesday and only got as far as getting the ship. Plays pretty much like a space version of Fallout 3, which I like, though I'd like to be able to skip some of the slow dialogue readings.

Oh, blatant rip off for sure. That said, the creature designs in Inferno are decidedly Clive Barker-esque (a good thing, imo) and the game is so fast paced that there's really isn't much time to ponder the flaws or lack of originality in game play. I was never a huge fan of the God of War games, but I'm really digging Dante's Inferno.

I fucking love that game. I love that whole series. I used to miss entire nights of sleep with Civ 3. I like Civ Rev because I can get through a whole game in just a few hours instead of 10+, but still ... ridiculously addictive in every way. If I boot the game up I will end up staying up way too late each and every time.

The OB&C is of the opinion that violent video games will be horribly scarring for a child. This is why Jack's swing is at an awkward angle in the room: so that he's facing away from the TV and his infant brain won't be polluted by video games.

I compare this to when I was a kid and The Terminator was on permanent loop on cable. Explosions, tits, violence, and a metal skeleton emerging from flame to try to kill a woman. No noticeable scarring.

I don't think playing Halo with your kid is likely to scar them, though I'd hope I'll be evening it out by playing catch in the backyard as well (if we can actually manage to sell this house and move to one with a backyard before my kid graduates college). But I guess I'm sort of looking for your thoughts.

Shoe Jr. will be 13 in a few weeks. He loves Halo and in addition to the games, has read all six Halo books.

I've been playing video games around him since he was a toddler, and he's always been fascinated by them. I've usually tried to avoid the REALLY violent games, but he's seen me mop up critters in Half-Life 2, which is pretty violent. I've stayed away from GTA games in front of him or stuff with excessive gore, but he's seen plenty of shooters in action.

I've never worried much about it because we talk about the games. We also play catch (I coached his little league team), play board games, and build hobby bullshit together. I read to him every night -- yes, even at nearly 13 he still enjoys that time together -- and have since he was about 3.

When he plays, he's only ever allowed to play for a limited amount of time. I don't think he's ever been in front of a game for longer than an hour or so at a stretch.

He's a smart, well-grounded kid. I've never observed anything even remotely off about the way he sees violence or the world in general. He's cynical, but not in a way that's any different than I was. He loves playing at war and all that stuff, but if you ask him about real war he's pretty quick to point out that he wouldn't want anything to do with it, it's pretty horrible, etc. He's averse to doing violence himself. He's more likely to try and break up a fight than he is to get in one.

He's a straight A student these days, about the kindest kid you'd ever meet, and a developing history buff. He has used stuff from video games as the inspiration for his first book, which he's writing now.

As far as M-rated games go, Halo is about as mild as they come. Still not totally sure why it's rated M to begin with.

I agree, the M rating has long baffled me. I think the first one had blood, but since then the games have never featured human blood, only cartoonish alien blood. Florescent purple goo, really, or yellow goo from the Flood. No profanity or sexual content, either.

He's a smart, well-grounded kid.... He's averse to doing violence himself. He's more likely to try and break up a fight than he is to get in one.

He's a straight A student these days, about the kindest kid you'd ever meet, and a developing history buff. He has used stuff from video games as the inspiration for his first book, which he's writing now.

I don't even remotely worry about him and video games.

Near-perfect CNN quote for the next mass murder at your local college.

He's a smart, well-grounded kid.... He's averse to doing violence himself. He's more likely to try and break up a fight than he is to get in one.

He's a straight A student these days, about the kindest kid you'd ever meet, and a developing history buff. He has used stuff from video games as the inspiration for his first book, which he's writing now.

I don't even remotely worry about him and video games.

Near-perfect CNN quote for the next mass murder at your local college.Sorry, but it's true.

Nope, not true. Those quotes always include "kept to himself" or "didn't really bother anybody" or "seemed pretty quiet." None of those things apply. He's outgoing, far from quiet, and has a lot of friends.

He's a smart, well-grounded kid.... He's averse to doing violence himself. He's more likely to try and break up a fight than he is to get in one.

He's a straight A student these days, about the kindest kid you'd ever meet, and a developing history buff. He has used stuff from video games as the inspiration for his first book, which he's writing now.

I don't even remotely worry about him and video games.

Near-perfect CNN quote for the next mass murder at your local college.Sorry, but it's true.

Nope, not true. Those quotes always include "kept to himself" or "didn't really bother anybody" or "seemed pretty quiet." None of those things apply. He's outgoing, far from quiet, and has a lot of friends.

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